Popular Hot Rodding Readers Projects Contest

All year long, the staffs of car magazines everywhere prepare tech stories and features on the cars of their choosing, be that of in-house projects, or finished jewels they find out on the road. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with holding up stellar examples of the breed for all to see, for the most part, the projects of rank-and-file readers—the backbone of any magazine readership—are largely ignored. The fact of the matter is, though these cars might not always be the most lavishly built, they are the cars that are in our garages. They mean a lot to us, even if they are still works in progress.

Popular Hot Rodding recognized years ago that the vast, silent majority of our readers never got the smallest shout-out in print. Not only was this wrong, the fact was, we weren't accurately representing the cars and equipment of our readers. There is a lot of cool hardware out there being built—both mainstream stuff and off-the-wall. Some of it might not be ready for prime time yet, but that's not to say there isn't anything interesting to see. The thing is, we all have a natural curiosity about what other regular guys have in their garages. We see them at car shows, drag races, and autocrosses when they're finished, but we never get to see them up close when they're going together. We also don't get the full background story, because as you well know when you're at a show, the owner is never around!

For this issue of PHR, the readers got to decide what's in the magazine. Back in our June issue, we put out the call for your in-progress projects, and this story is the result of that callout. To sweeten the pot, we asked the cool tire dudes at Mickey Thompson to give up a set of their new Street Comp ultra high performance tires to the project with the best combination of execution and photography, and they agreed. The catch? We asked you to pick up the camera, shoot some high-res pix of your in-progress project, fill out the form, and write a short one-page story. If you followed our directions and got your stuff in by the deadline, it's in here.

We're pleased to announce that Tom Craig of Converse, Texas, won the Readers' Projects Contest Sponsored By Mickey Thompson by submitting some beautifully composed shots of his LS-powered 1966 Chevy II Nova project. Tom has performed almost all of the work himself at home, and his project difficulty and performance goals are quite lofty. The thing that put us over the top was the care he took in taking his photos. The photo composition, setting, and lighting was quite nearly in the pro ballpark, and when the total sum of all these factors were considered together as a whole, we had no choice but to crown Tom as our winner.

In the January issue, look for the results for the Popular Hot Rodding Photo Contest Sponsored By Auto Meter. Stay tuned!

Mickey Thompson Street Comp Tires
Tom Craig of Converse, Texas, is the winner of our Readers' Projects contest, and he receives a free set of Mickey Thompson Street Comp tires to outfit his '66 Chevy II Nova! These high-performance driving shoes have a sexy asymmetric tread design that works well in both wet and dry. With a UTQG treadwear rating of 300 and traction/temp grades of "AA" and "A" respectively, the Street Comp is a great all-around tire for the street and occasional track use. The Mickey Thompson Street Comp tire is built for ultra high performance applications, and provides incredible traction, crisp handling, and high-speed cornering ability with the outstanding appearance you'd expect from a Mickey Thompson tire. They also have a great look for muscle cars and will complement Tom's hot LS-powered performer. The Street Comp is a tire that we're very excited about here at PHR because it's built specifically for our heavier mid and fullsized muscle car classics in beefy widths with rim sizes from 17 to 20 inches.

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Mickey Thompson Street Comp Sizes

245/45R17

255/45R18

275/40R17

235/50R18

235/55R17

245/40R19

235/40R18

285/35R19

275/35R18

255/40R19

245/40R18

255/35R20

225/45R18

275/35R20

275/40R18

275/40R20

245/45R18

245/45R20

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Winner!1966 Chevy IITom Craig; Converse, TX
The story of project Super Nova, as Tom Craig calls it, began a little over two years ago while writing the cover letter to his entry in PHR's 2010 photo contest. His intent at the time was to build an LS-powered 1966 Chevy II, but a remark from his wife altered the plans a bit. "That looks like a granny car," is something no man wants to have in the back of his mind while heaping time, sweat, and money into a project car, so the Chevy II morphed into a 1968 Camaro Z/28.

That's really not such a bad compromise, but the lust for a well-built Chevy II still picked at Tom's mind. After much searching he finally came across a complete and solid six-cylinder hardtop. It had never been raced or abused, but did have a nicely done small-block conversion. And it was affordable! Tom was so excited about the find that the only driving time he put on the car when it arrived was from the transport trailer to his garage for disassembly. He had his vision and he was ready to start immediately.

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At first, the build began slowly, however, when Tom and his wife decided to part with the Camaro, the build ramped up quickly. That doesn't mean that it was going to come easy, though. Tom says this build has really caused him to challenge himself to learn and do more. Some quality time with his dad and a Millermatic 140 welding machine yielded new floorpans and a support brace. After that confidence-builder, Tom went on to add Detroit Speed and Engineering mini-tubs, and even cleaned up and flattened the factory firewall. With the tub solid, Tom tore out the factory suspension for a full upgrade front and rear with Total Cost Involved (TCI). He had always planned to create a Chevy II that could handle, so TCI's Pro Touring front clip and torque arm three-link rear suspension were the choice. Of course it had to be LS powered as originally planned, so an LS3 and a Master Shift prepped 4L70E were paired with a Holley Dominator EFI system.

More good news for the Chevy II project: Tom just completed a 30x40 shop that will give him the space, capability, and motivation to really spend some time building the Chevy II he's always wanted. We dare say, we think even his wife will like it when he's done!

1972 Chevy Monte CarloMelanie Rasmussen Cedar Falls, IA
When John Rasmussen purchased this 1972 Monte from the second owner four years ago in Texas, it was looking pretty weathered, had no interior, and the engine had been pulled. His original plan was to whip it back into driveable shape quickly and to be an easy project for his youngest daughter, Melanie. Well, things got out of hand kinda quickly when it was determined that it needed new quarters, trunk floor, floorpans, and window channel and cowl vent rust repairs. So much for quick and easy.

Since then, the plan has blossomed into a full custom build that will feature a serious 11-speaker sound system, all trim shaved, and mirrors replaced with backup cameras. So far John has dropped in original swivel buckets from a 1973 Monte and plans for a custom digital dash and molded-in center console. It's still her car, so Melanie has been helping all the way through and will take care of sewing up new covers for the seats and door panels. Little touches throughout the interior will hint toward the Monte's custom tag: LANSHRK.

1964 Buick RivieraJohn Rasmussen Cedar Falls, IA
Back in 1980, John Rasmussen's uncle Dave traded a Honda motorcycle for this 1964 Riviera. The guy almost crashed the bike, so he sold it back to Dave for $600; he then resold it again for $900. So essentially Uncle Dave got a free Riviera plus $300. Not bad horse trading.

John's first experience working on a car was replacing the wood inlays on the center console for his uncle and that launched his interest in getting his hands dirty. For the next few years it attended quite a few car shows until the block cracked in 1985. The Riviera then spent the next 22 years getting towed from Iowa to California, then to Texas—sitting outside in primer all the time.

In 2007 Rasmussen finally convinced uncle Dave to sell him the Riviera, which was pretty weathered by then. The interior was cooked, the trunk was rusted out, and a colony of fire ants lived in the frame supports.

So far Rasmussen has disassembled the Riviera, blasted everything clean, and epoxy primed it. He built his own rotisserie and lift system to hang the body in his two-car garage, so the Riv will be better than he remembers it when it's finished.

1972 Chevy NovaKarl Abram Waynesville, OH
Sometimes it's not just about finding the right model of car to build, it's about finding the right one of those cars to build. This '72 Nova is Karl Abrams' fifth Nova, but this one has been with him for the last 30 years and, as a result, is by far the one he loves the most. Karl says he has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but always clung to the Nova and his dream of restoring it to be the muscle car of his dreams. As a Lexus/Acura Master Technician, Karl chose to build the big-block 396 himself. He has also smoothed the firewall, shaved the door handles, and installed new front fenders and inner wheelwells. Karl tells us: "Many times throughout the day I look at my Nova and dream of driving her again, and I know someday I will! I've always been an old-school hot rodder and this car is what it's all about—real American kickass muscle cars!"

1969 Chevy ImpalaPaul Mangelsdorf LA Grangeville, NY
Paul Mangelsdorf grew up being interested in anything that moved under its own power. His biggest influence was his maternal grandfather, a 1950s hot rodder who still owns and drives a 1930 Model A he bought when he was 22. Ironically, it's the only classic car that his gramps never hot-rodded, as part of a promise to the original owner. As such, Paul was originally more interested in showroom stock restorations and even helped judge events. We're proud to say PHR helped bring him over to the hot rod side.

His dad gave him the 2010 Readers' Projects issue, and Paul says he was "bit by the bug beyond all recognition," and that issue is the most well-worn print material he owns. After that the project search began in earnest and eventually led Paul and his dad to a junkyard in Connecticut where a 1969 Impala convertible awaited. After negotiation, the Imp came back to New York with them. The first goal is to get the Impy driveable over the summer, but more importantly, completed for his senior prom and graduation in 2014. The biggest goal, though, is to have a lifelong, fun project for him and his father to enjoy.

1969 Chevy CamaroKirk Tonkin; Aurora, OR
Sometimes it takes a little horse trading and patience to get the car you really want. Kirk Tonkin grew up with a mom and dad who believed in doing things yourself, so he learned to work on almost everything. Family vehicles were always maintained at home, and when Kirk's older brother, Bill, bought his first car he was there to help. It was only a 1,200cc Datsun, but Kirk loved it. Of course watching the neighbor do burnouts in a 1968 LeMans looked like a lot more fun!

A few years later, after getting a couple V-8 cars under his belt, Kirk had the opportunity to trade his complete 1975 Camaro to a friend for a basket case 1969 Camaro. He knew it could be the car of his dreams, so he began collecting parts and working on the body. Unfortunately, the driver's quarter-panel ended up being too damaged to repair, and the project got sidelined. And then life showed up with family, kids, and job priorities.

Kirk kept reading his favorite car magazines and says that articles in PHR inspired him to pick up a MIG welder and tackle the quarter himself. Now 20 years after the trade, Kirk's almost 16-year-old son, Ethan, is coming out to the garage with him and helping to relight the drive. The goal is to have the 1969 finally on the road by Ethan's 16th.

1969 Chevy CamaroTara Steinhoff Shakopee, MN
Twenty years ago when Tara Steinhoff was 17, she saw this 1969 Camaro for sale and talked her dad into cosigning a small loan to buy it. She says she didn't know much about cars, but she knew it was sweet looking! She quickly began to appreciate the 327ci, four-speed, and 4.56 gears, especially when her and her dad were challenged to a race by a Corvette one day. The Vette beat them, but the driver yelled that he was impressed by the Camaro and girl driving it. That run convinced Tara she wanted to build the Camaro into a drag car.

The Camaro was torn down to get a big-block transplant and wheeltubs, but as so often it does, school, husband, house, child, and dog priorities took over. Currently the Camaro is slowly progressing, though with the help of some of Tara's friends who run a hot rod shop. So far they've stripped off all the old Bondo, prepped it for quarter replacement, rebuilt the front end, and changed the bushings. Tara says she often feels overwhelmed by how much the Camaro still needs, and has pondered selling it. We've all been there many times. We say it's a great project; keep plugging away at it, get your soon-to-be teenage son involved, and it will be your dream car one day.

1955 ChevyDoug Jordan Eaton Rapids, MI
This 1955 Chevy has been with Doug Jordan through a lot of changes in the past 10 years, but he's still moving steadily forward. Beginning in 2003 before wife and family, Doug purchased the 1955 on eBay as a basket case. It was the typical rusty 50-year-old car, so Doug stripped it down to really assess the work. It was obvious that a full frame-off resto was required. Many hours were spent cutting off rusty sheetmetal and replacing the quarters, wheeltubs, rockers, and trunk floor. Plus, the firewall was moved back to better fit the big-block. After that, Doug put the 1955 on a homemade rotisserie and finished up the bottom before sending it out for metal finishing and a coat of tinted primer sealer.

Doug says he has discovered that "if you just break down a large project into smaller pieces and complete them one at a time, you will never get in over your head with work or money spent." His next small project is the fuel system plumbing and adding a custom 29-gallon aluminum fuel tank.

BY THE NUMBERSEngine: 396ci big-block Chevy with 454 oval-port heads, COMP Cams 280H-10 cam, Edelbrock Performer intake and carb Trans: Turbo 400 with B&M guts Rearend: original 10-bolt with 3.55 gearsSuspension: stock, front and rear, with 2-inch drop springs Brakes: power discs up front, stock drums rear Wheels & Tires: 15x7 Rocket Igniter with 215/65 and 255/60 tires Future plans: Doug says he recently realized he needs to finish the '55 before his son gets to driving age so he can enjoy it before having to wrestle him for the keys!

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1963 Ford FairlaneFelipe Arroyo Deltona, FL
This superslick 1963 Fairlane looks like a drag car that should be sporting some major horsepower, and that was the case for quite a while. Back when Felipe Arroyo bought it in 2000, the Fairlane was in fair condition, but needed a restoration. Felipe handled all the bodywork himself, including spraying the DuPont Spectra Master Blue Metallic paint. The factory shock towers and front suspension was cut away to make way for a Mustang II–style suspension since his plans included a very large engine. That new space was soon occupied by a 789hp big-block Chevy. The final product caught a lot of attention at car shows and even earned Chip Foose's signature with a quick sketch of the Fairlane on the glovebox door. Nowadays, Felipe has decided he wants to make the Fairlane a more street-friendly driver, so the BBC has vacated in favor of another large engine in the form of a 4-cam 4.6-liter from a Cobra Mustang.

1969 Pontiac FirebirdRay Pepe Rocky Point, NY
Sometimes it seems like a project just wants to fight you the whole way, as Ray Pepe can attest. His 1969 Firebird has slowly tested his patience as one component after another let go. When he first got it, he drove it around for about a year before the pinion broke and destroyed the posi. Ray swapped in a 10-bolt from a 1969 Camaro and upgraded the springs, shocks, and bushings while he was at it. Shortly thereafter the trans started slipping, so he pulled it and had it rebuilt with a higher stall converter. Well, about 50 miles after reinstalling it the 400ci mill developed a rod knock.

Rather than rebuild, Ray dropped in a 1970 400 from a GTO. Finally in good running shape, Ray entered the Firebird into a couple car shows. On the way back from one of those shows, Ray accepted a challenge issued by a Mercury for an impromptu race, which resulted in the 400 throwing a rod. Frustrated, Ray parked the Firebird for about a year, but eventually decided to do a full-on resto. So far he has it stripped down to a roller now to tackle all the rust issues and strip it for a fresh coat of Hugger Orange paint.

1959 Edsel RangerJohn Behneman; Orange, CA
This 1959 Edsel came to John Behneman via a trade for his 1959 El Camino. The Elky needed a lot more work and money than the Edsel, so considering that John works 50-plus hours a week, attends school in the evening, and has home and family responsibilities, he came out way ahead with the clean and driveable Edsel. Money is supertight right now, but John developed a reasonable plan that would allow him to keep moving forward. So far he has swapped on the baby moon wheels and used Mothers paint restoration system to bring the old paint up to par. Next, he replaced a few leaky gaskets, and did some underhood painting and cleanup. For 2013, he plans to update the master cylinder to a Wilwood unit, swap on Granada drop spindles and disc brakes, block the rear springs for a 2-inch drop, and update the wheels. Work is great, but for fun John also plans a lot more car shows and more daily driving.

1989 Chevy BlazerDaniel Davenport; Crested Butte, CO
We rarely step outside our 1955-80-ish range of cars here at PHR, or many things of the truck persuasion, but we do make exceptions for special ones that have an attitude and persona we can appreciate. For this 1989 S-10 Blazer, it's really all about what's hiding underhood. V-8 swaps for these are not uncommon, but twin-turbo small-block swaps most definitely are! Starting with a strong aftermarket block, Daniel Davenport filled it with an Eagle rotating assembly and custom Diamond forged pistons. That was capped off with ported Pro 1 heads from Dart and orchestrated by a custom COMP cam that was based on one of their XFI grinds. That's cool, but it's the Banks Sidewinder twin turbos that will turn heads and snap necks. Sadly, the Blazer sits in the garage roughly seven months out of the year due to snowfall in Crested Butte, but during those days when the roads are clear, the Blazer roams the streets striking fear into the hopped-up diesel trucks that dominate the area.

1997 Saturn SCRobert House; Valrico, FL
Robert House always said that if he were going to build something big, it would definitely be in the dare-to-be-different mindset. Enter the Saturn SC. Robert had owned a few as daily drivers and developed a fondness for them, especially the first generation. But what he envisioned was a subtle little coupe that appeared stock, but packed LS power and a chassis made for autocross. Beginning with a clean 1997 SC, Robert gutted everything between the rocker panels and dropped it atop a custom chassis with a four-linked 9-inch rear that he designed and commissioned Auto Fab to build. The body is staying stock, but the drivetrain is an LS1 and T56 slid about 12 inches back for better weight distribution. That, of course, required a new firewall and the seats to be relocated rearward too. Almost all of this is happening in Robert's garage with only the electrical work to be farmed out. In the end, he wants the ultimate sleeper, but admits that the SpinTech oval-tube side pipes and the bark they emit will be a giveaway.

1970 Dodge ChallengerAlbert Lavoie Riverside, CA
We know what you're thinking: that Challenger is way too nice to be a project. We thought so too at first, but its current non-op, non-running status that Albert Lavoie plans to tackle after he retires from the postal service in 2014 after 40 years does make it a legit project. He's just starting with something a lot nicer than most of us. Of course, that's because he took extra good care of it since he purchased it in 1973 from a used car lot for $1,100. Over the 40 years since then, Albert has put an astonishing 485,000 miles on the clock with three engines, two transmissions, two rearends, and three different coats of Go-Mango paint. In 2003 he pulled it into the driveway, put a cover over it, and it has not been driven since. "Covered does not mean forgotten," Albert reminded us. The Challenger looks exactly the same today as it did when parked. He fully intends to have it be his fun retirement project and does not plan to create extra work for himself in the meantime. Plus, after surviving 485,000 miles, it would be unforgivable to neglect it now.

1977 Chevy CorvetteWilliam Craft Portsmouth, OH
In 2006 at the age of 56, William Craft turned to his girlfriend and told her that he wanted to build a car that attracted a crowd whenever he took it out for a spin. To begin, he picked up a 1977 Corvette for $800, which needless to say, was in very rough condition. That was fine for William though since he had no plans to restore it to stock standards. Actually he had no idea exactly what he was going to do with it when he started. "I did not set out to build it this way, but I let my imagination run wild," William stated. "It just started taking shape, and I liked the changes. I just did not want it to look like anyone else's." William has done everything himself in his carport, including the paint. To make the C3 Vette look more unique, he cut out the centersection of the lower bumper and built a custom billet grille to fill it in. The pop-up headlights were replaced by a set from a 1994 Pontiac and Craft built a custom cover for them. He says it still has a lot of work to go, but we wager he's already getting plenty of attention.

1971 Chevy CamaroKen Pierson Stockertown, PA
When the second-gen Camaro first debuted in 1970, Ken Pierson knew he had to have one. Of course, he'd have to wait a while since he was only 8 years old at the time. When he turned 18 though, he hunted down a 1971 at a dealership in New Jersey for $2,000. He financed it for $99 a month and drove away a happy man. The Camaro was with him through many adventures up until 1984 when Ken got married. After that came three kids and a house, so all the Camaro money was diverted to family life. After getting a promotion at work that came with a company truck, Ken parked the Camaro in his barn. Life sped by and before he knew it, the Camaro had been in there for 17 years.

Last spring he decided to pull out his old friend and get it back on the road. First up was a new engine and trans since he had pulled and sold the original after parking it. Next, Ken replaced about a third of the body panels with better steel and reassembled the interior. It's been a family project with Ken and his wife and kids doing all the work. All those memories make the nearly two decades off the road all worthwhile.

1967 Chevy Camaro RSJon Floyd; Charlotte, NC
This Camaro began as a personal project for Jon Floyd, but has become a father/son project. It's been sitting in the back of a family friend's shop since the late 1970s and was an old street/strip car. When it finally came up for sale three years ago, Jon decided to pick it up and put it back together. He convinced his dad to get involved, and now it has become a passion for both of them. The body was in great shape, but Jon did have to spend some time running around to track down the missing doors and hood. So far, the 383ci stroker is built for it; Jon is working with fabricator Darryl Lail to get some minor bodywork finished, and they are now pondering the paint color. Originally the plan was a matte black finish, but Jon's mom hated the idea, and since she has been kind enough to give up garage space, the plan was changed to Marina Blue—her favorite color. Once all the metal fab is finished, the Camaro will head over to Kimbrell's Paint in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, to get that great hue, then back to mom's garage for the drivetrain install.

1957 Chevy 150Tedd Pierce Fairbanks, AK
Forty-six years ago in 1967 when Tedd Pierce was 17, he purchased this 150 sedan for $100. It was his only transportation until 1969 when he joined the Navy Seabees. It sat parked in a storage shed for 2.5 years until his return. He changed the oil and battery, and proceeded to drive it daily for the next 14 years. Family and home responsibilities eventually left no money for upkeep on the 1957, so when the brakes failed in 1984, Tedd parked it. The 1957 ended up sitting for the next 20 years and the harsh Alaskan environment was not kind to it, however, Tedd had started his own forklift business in 1995, and by 2005 he purchased a shop large enough that would allow him to get the 1957 inside. Four years later business was doing well, so he decided it was time to do what he had wanted for the past 42 years. Friends who were familiar with the 1957 and its condition tried to dissuade Tedd from the project, saying that it would be much cheaper and easier to just buy another car. They were right, but Tedd really wanted his Chevy back.

It's now been almost four years since he started the revival and the 1957 is sporting new quarters, fenders, doors, engine, trans, wiring, glass, interior, and sits on an Art Morrison GT Sport chassis. It may have been a lowly 150 when he started, but the 1957 will now be top-shelf with power accessories, A/C, and an audio system with DVD and GPS capability. So much has been replaced and changed that it won't look or feel much like his old Chevy, but Tedd says the soul of it will still be there.

BY THE NUMBERSEngine: 460hp Edelbrock SS 383 small-block Chevy with E-Tec heads, Air-Gap intake, and hydraulic roller cam Trans: TCI Turbo 400 three-speed automatic StreetFighter Rearend: Strange 9-inch Ford with 3.70 gears Suspension: Art Morrison GT Sport chassis with Strange coilovers and triangulated four-link in the rear Brakes: discs front and rear Wheels & Tires: 17x8 and 17x10 American Racing Torq-Thrusts II with 245/45 and 275/40 Toyo Proxes Future plans: Tedd had pondered parting with the car a couple times, but his wife told him she would divorce him if he did, so there will be lots of driving in the '57's future.

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1970 Dodge ChargerTyler Hunkele Akron, OH
Every car guy has at least one body style that really speaks to them, and for Tyler Hunkele it's the iconic 1968-70 Dodge Chargers. He had to wait until after graduating college to make it a reality, but he finally got a 1970 project. The original idea was to turn it into a Daytona clone, but after catching an episode of Rides and seeing the Hammer Charger built by Steve Strope, his plans took an abrupt turn. Now he wanted a top-notch Pro Touring car. The Charger needed a good deal of panel patching and bodywork, but luckily a friend of the family owned a body shop and was willing to work with Tyler on a pay-as-you-go basis. The Charger spent a few years in the shop getting the steel in shape, which gave Tyler time to collect parts via articles in magazines on Mopars and advice from Steve Strope himself. Rather than Hammer's BMW Sterling Grey, Tyler went for Sassy Grass Green, and rather than a Hemi he opted for a 499ci low-deck 400 from Compu-Flow. Now Tyler and his dad are in the reassembly phase and learning a lot about B-Body Mopar construction.

1963 Chevy IIBob DeGutes; Henderson, NV
Believe it or not, this 1963 Chevy II is the second car Bob DeGutes ever owned. He originally bought it in 1986 for $300. He, his brother, and his dad did much of the work to help restore it to driving condition while Bob was in college. It later followed him to Las Vegas, where Bob met other Chevy II/Nova enthusiasts who helped him swap out the drivetrain to a 283 from a 1964 Nova, a Muncie four-speed, and a rear from an early Dart. In 1990, Bob was activated for Desert Storm, so the Chevy II went into storage. Upon return, his parents surprised him with a truck for daily driving while Bob finished college and started a family. In 2001 he decided to tear the Chevy II apart for a full build. He even had a rendering done by Mascoll Designs for motivation. So far he has a Chassisworks front clip and TCI rear suspension installed, and a Goodmark 2-inch cowl and 1963 Acadian grille for unique style. Robinson Motorsports is installing a rollcage and a Wilwood reverse pedal assembly for the TKO 500 upgrade. The 283 is staying, but is now .065-over with custom JE forged pistons and forged Scat rods and crank. To shove in more air, a pair of T3 turbos from an '86 Thunderbird with JGS wastegates and blow-off valve feed a Godspeed intercooler and will boost the tiny SBC into big-block territory. All that will be controlled by a Holley HP series EFI system. Bob is still doing much of the work himself, including all of the bodywork and paint in his garage.

1969 Dodge Coronet 500Nicole & Kurt Chenoweth Mitchell, SD
Nicole Chenoweth's desire for some top-down driving was the impetus for this Coronet build. Husband Kurt proposed a classic companion for their 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury, and she replied: "Show me some cars." Unfortunately, this was 2005 when Mopar prices were sky high, but they managed to find a nice driver 1969 Coronet 500 in Illinois. The car was solid and ran well, so they just drove and enjoyed it for a couple of years. The 318 was a little tired, so they decided to rebuild it, but keep it mild since this was just a sunny day cruiser. Shortly after that came a suspension rebuild and rack-and-pinion steering swap for more driving confidence, and then the Coronet was cruised like that for a few more years. Nevertheless, the whole time Kurt was taking notes at car shows and in magazines of cars he liked in preparation for a full build. To make the vision tangible, Kurt had Eric Brockmeyer create a rendering of the subtly modded Coronet. Other than the paint and wheels, the biggest deviation externally will be the Billet Specialties 1969 Camaro taillights flipped left for right. Inside it will sport a custom leather interior and aftermarket gauges in the dash. The 318 will still be under the hood, but all the wires will be hidden and the engine bay will be as smooth as possible. Lots of cruising will still be in the Coronet's future, but Kurt and his son, Andrew, recently discovered how much fun the Goodguys autocross is, so now the suspension, chassis, and brakes are getting upgraded as well.

1976 Chevy Vega IMSAByron Burnham El Cajon, CA
Byron Burnham wanted to build something different, plus he wanted to be very competitive in autocross and Pro Touring challenges. What better than an IMSA-style Vega to fit the bill? While most H-bodies have received the drag treatment over the years, they're actually quite potent when prepped for handling, especially with massive flares covering extra wide tires! Thanks to the widebody kit, pretty much the roof and doors are the only panels that haven't been modified. Byron is now in the process of modifying the front end of the car with a new air dam that wraps around to the fenderwells, and building fiberglass bumpers front and rear. The original Vega uses a unibody construction, however, Byron has installed an Art Morrison three-link back half and continued using the same kind of square tubing to tie into the existing stock front suspension. The front suspension is a custom-built IFS with tubular control arms, Chevy S-10 2-inch drop spindles, and a Unisteer power rack-and-pinion steering system. For optimum weight distribution, the LS3 has been set back 3 inches from the stock location. It's also been moved over .75 inch to the right and lowered approximately 2 inches. For safety and rigidity during the hard driving Byron plans, the Vega has a 10-point rollcage from front to back, Procar racing seats, and a RideTech five-point harness. "I am investing a lot of time, money, blood, sweat, and tears in this Vega, and my friends remind me it is still only a Vega," Byron told us. "Unique is what I seek, and this is already grabbing attention. My friends have also reminded me that there is no time for girlfriends. This Vega is my girlfriend right now!"

1965 Olds F-85 WagonJack Karamanos Camano Island, WA
The story of this Olds wagon project actually begins in 1988 when Jack Karamanos' 1947 Olds 98 four-door met with an untimely end when the rearend came loose while he was at full song in Second gear. Luckily, Jack was fine and so was the drivetrain. It took about five years for him to get over the bad mood of losing a 19-year project, but eventually Jack picked up this 1965 F-85 wagon. It was supposedly the tow car for an old front-engine dragster racer and came with paperwork detailing all the work from 1976 when it had 65K, to 1995 when it was parked with 235K.

As a wagon, it may look big and heavy, but Jack says it should be a good half-ton or so lighter than his 1947. Currently the F-85 has a non-running small-block Chevy with a four-speed swapped in using a lot of factory parts, but Jack wants his old Olds power back, blower and all. After a bore and refresh with a Summit Racing kit, .040-over Speed-Pro pistons, and a custom Delta Cams camshaft, it's ready to for its fully ported and modified C-casting heads and B&M supercharger. How did Jack get a blower setup for an Olds? He didn't. When Holley Purchased B&M, there was a big sale and he picked up a BBC blower setup cheaply. He then took the blower, block, heads, an Offenhauser 360 intake, and a piece of aluminum plate to a machinist, and he worked his metal magic to create the custom Olds manifold.

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The magnificent spread laid before the F-85 in the photo is the soon-to-be-installed parts. Weighing far less than the 1947, Jack's new Olds should be a screamer ready to surprise those who doubt the longroof's potential!